Cinelandia (February 1931)

A well needed coaching in their acting or the delivery of their lines. The result was a most amateurish performance that will bring ¡ts just reward when and wherever this picEve is shown; and with it will come a storm of disapproval and the consequent query of our readers as to what is wrong with Spanish talkies. The above is not an isolated case. It has happened in almost every Spanish picture duced by every studio so far, and we pro SA 2 ads could go on citing cases of this kind beyond the limits of these columns. Men are engaged as writers, whose past experience does not fit them for the writing of dialogue for a talking picture, and yet they are entrusted with this important task that in English is the subject of careful and lengthy consideration. | lts a mystery to us how these men are given the job of translators or adapters from English, a language of which they have, in the majority of cases, only a book knowledge. Many do not even know that much, and yet these men are called upon to adapt from scripts that contain American phrases and local slang that would stump a Britisher or an Australian not used to them. Most of these fellows came direct from Spain. They have never had contact with the vast Spanish-American public for whom they are supposed to write intelligently and sympathetically, and where the use of an unhappy word or phrase might mean hurt sensibilities and the ruining of a film beyond recall. In this very issue we have an article from the pen of J. Carner Ribalta, writer and adapter for Paramount Studios. He tells us of the difficulties of translating an American script and brings out a case in point which bears consideration. Sez he: “I had to translate the one-word phrase Night!” As its Spanish counterpart Noche” did not carry the same forceful meaning to Spanish ears, 1 had to recourse to the use of “Por fin... . ¡la noche!” (At last the night!)” Four words instead of one. To Mr. Ribalta's statement we can only add that even the four-word phrase was an unhappy choice since “the coming of night” could have been expressed much better visually than audibly, as becomes a motion picture. But apparently none of this is taken into consideration in the preparation of Spanish scripts. Is it a wonder then, that this part of Spanish production also contributes its share to the general inefhiciency that has so far attended the making of Spanish talking films? A recent article in a leading Buenos Aires publication notes the present indifference of the public towards current Spanish talkies and marks its preference for American talkies, handicapped though they are by their ignorance of English. If to top this trend, they happen to see once more real moving pictures like “Morocco,” “Her Man,” and a few others in which the English dialogue can be easily ignored by the use of Spanish subtitles, there is a great danger that the Spanish talkies will die before they are weaned. But why should they meet this ignominious fate? The fans really want Spanish talkies, but the producers must first give this branch of the business more attention. Their very ¡Shorance of the language and the peoples whom they wish to serve should make them doubly careful in the selection of the men cd put in charge. Surely there must be : e men of culture and practical common hse In and out of the industry who can be Rai for the exacting posts of directing a pictures and the preparation of diaE o are important elements which Spanish A been sadly missing in the o E le production and which have taring on its poor quality. r 71 do, AS NA gran mayoría del bello sexo descubre bien pronto que su belleza le ha sido arrebatada. Casi de repente, lo que fué un cutis como un pétalo de rosa, es una cara marchita, ojerosa y triste. : Por lo regular, cabe culpar únicamente la alimentación. Es una desgracia que la mayoría de mujeres—y hombres —ignoren la importancia de los alimentos de fibra indestructible—y que el Kellogg?s ALL-BRAN, además de proporcionar esta fibra indispensable contra el estreñimiento y sus terribles efectos, alimenta el organismo con valiosas sales minerales. El Kellogg's ALL-BRAN contiene fibra en extraordinaria proporción. Esta fibra, al empaparse de humedad, distien Creadores también de los KELLOGG'S CORN FLAKES. Y del Kellogg?s PEP—sabrosas conchillas de trigo integral con su salvado, ligeramente laxantes. (ell LL BRAN El enemigo del Ai bello sexo de y ejercita los intestinos, al pasar por ellos, barriéndolos de todo resíduo ponzoñoso. Es por esto que los médicos recomiendan el ALL-BRAN, sin embargo no ser una medicina, sino un alimento. Kellogg's ALL-BRAN obra naturalmente... y es un cereal muy gustoso con leche fría o crema (frescas o evaporadas), y sabrosísimo con adición de fruta o miel. Puede mezclarse con la sopa y otros cereales y cocinarse de mil maneras, como enseñan las recetas del paquete. Para proteger la salud y dar gusto al paladar, tómense dos cucharadas diarias o dos en cada comida, en una forma u otra. Kellogg's ALL-BRAN se vende en todas las tiendas de comestibles en su paquete verde y rojo. Un g E AN holloyy y Prv. Lro: nELoco aa ONE